A mother has been jailed for eight months after she initially claimed responsibility for stabbing her partner to try and protect her son.

Joanne Bray had a volatile relationship with Andrew Yates and had been out drinking with him in Huddersfield on November 24 last year.

Tim Capstick prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court her ex-husband Paul Evans also turned up and was drinking with their son and daughter.

There came a time when Mr Yates left but Bray wanted to remain longer and when she finally decided to go home her son and daughter feared trouble.

Within a short time of her getting home there was an altercation which led to Mr Yates being stabbed. It was he who first called the emergency services saying he thought he was going to die.

Mr Capstick said the conversation was recorded and Bray and her son Stephen Evans were heard saying they thought he was dead. Her son was saying he could not “do life for it” and she kept telling him he would not have to and that she would take the blame.

Bray did tell the operator, paramedics and police she was responsible but the next day said she was not and tests to her clothes supported that.

Mr Yates was taken to hospital after his condition was stabilised and after surgery he made a good recovery.

Initially Bray and her son were charged with attempted murder but later she faced a charge instead of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

An alternative charge of wounding was added for her son who denied both charges claiming self defence and was due to face trial last month when the case against him was dropped after Mr Yates refused to co-operate.

Martin Sharpe representing Bray said at the time she was desperately trying to protect her son “when both were in an extremely emotionally charged situation.”

When emotions cooled she accepted responsibility for making a very bad decision to step in for her son. She had always worked and done the best for her family.

Bray, 44 of Keldregate, Bradley, Huddersfield admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Jailing her Judge Guy Kearl QC said while he accepted she had acted in panic there had to be an immediate jail term since she had tried to mislead the police and impede the proper course of justice by saying she was responsible for the stabbing.

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